HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 8 : Chaminade Uses Plan B to Defeat Serra, 21-6

GARDENA —  The numbers weren’t spectacular for Chaminade High tailback Jason Giovannettone against Serra on Friday night.

The second-leading scorer among area Southern Section players was held without a touchdown, but his 132 yards in 26 carries in his first game back from an ankle injury were enough to lift the Eagles to a 21-6 victory in a Mission League game at Serra.

Most of Giovannettone’s yards came in the second half and were of the hard-earned variety--between the tackles--as Chaminade clung to a 7-6 lead.

But he was effective enough to keep the Cavaliers (4-4, 1-3 in league play) in an eight-man front.

The focus on stopping Giovannettone, who was questionable to even play, allowed Chaminade (8-0, 3-0) to score two fourth-quarter touchdowns on a four-yard pass from Jason Zdenek to Gabe Crecion and on a five-yard run by Kris Peterson.

“This was a huge game; I wasn’t about to miss it,” Giovannettone said. “Once the adrenaline was pumping, I didn’t even think about the ankle. Just kept on going.”

Used sparingly at defensive back to protect the ankle, Giovannettone demanded to be put in the game after the Cavaliers completed a long pass late in the fourth quarter. He deflected two passes in the end zone to quash the comeback attempt.

Giovannettone’s plays capped an outstanding effort from the Eagles’ defense, save for the early stages of the game.

Serra methodically moved 80 yards in 11 plays on its first possession to take a 6-0 lead. The Cavaliers converted three third-down situations, including an eight-yard pass from Darnell Lacy to Jashon Sykes on third and four.

The Eagles held the Cavaliers, and Lacy, in check the rest of the half. Sophomore tailback Brice Montgomery was held to 23 yards in 11 carries and Lacy was sacked six times. Serra was held to 131 yards, 17 rushing.

“We just had to adjust a little,” said Zdenek, who intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter. “We had to get used to what they were doing.”

Chaminade took a 7-6 lead in the second quarter on a 10-yard pass from Zdenek to Peter Foy. Zdenek completed six of 12 passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns.